Davenport, IA- The Quad City Symphony Orchestra's December Masterworks concert presents a perfect pairing of fresh inspirations with romantic tradition. New to the Quad Cities' stage will be Alasdair Neale, hailing from the San Francisco Bay area. Neale will be leading the Quad City Symphony Orchestra as they accompany our beloved Concertmaster Naha Greenholtz in her performance of Jennifer Higdon's 2010 Pulitzer Prize-winning Violin Concerto. Greenholtz will be only the third violinist to perform this work. Then on the second half of the concert, this new work will be contrasted with Rachmaninoff's romantic masterpiece, his sweeping Symphony No. 2.

The concert will be performed on December 7 and 8. Saturday evening's concert will be held at the Adler Theatre in Davenport at 7:30 p.m., and followed on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at Centennial Hall in Rock Island. Tickets for this concert can be purchased in person at the QCSO Box Office, 327 Brady Street in Davenport, by phone at 563.322.QCSO (7276), or online at www.qcsymphony.com.

Higdon completed her Violin Concerto in 2008, written for and dedicated to American violinist Hilary Hahn. Hahn then presented the premiere performance with the Indianapolis Symphony in 2009. The concerto was later honored with the Pulitzer Prize in Music for 2010. The New York Times described Higdon's Violin Concerto as "a showpiece in the classical Romantic style." This will be the second work by Jennifer Higdon to be performed by the QCSO, who performed her blue cathedral in 2007.

Alasdair Neale is Music Director of the Sun Valley Summer Symphony (SVSS), Music Director of the Marin Symphony Orchestra, and Principal Guest Conductor of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. In his nineteen years as Music Director of the SVSS, Neale has propelled this festival to national status: it is now the largest privately funded free admission symphony in America. Neale has also guest conducted the New York Philharmonic, Saint Louis Symphony, Houston Symphony, Columbus Symphony, Dallas Symphony, St. Paul Chamber, Rochester Philharmonic, and many other orchestras throughout the US and abroad. The Seattle Times said of Neale: "This is a conductor with a real sense of drama."

QCSO Concertmaster Naha Greenholtz was born in Kyoto, Japan, where she began her violin studies at age three. Since her solo debut at 14, concerto appearances have included engagements with the Vancouver Symphony, Quad City Symphony, Madison Symphony, and the National Repertory Orchestras in works ranging from Bach to Stravinsky. Greenholtz also serves as Artistic Director of the WVIK/QCSO Signature Series, a chamber music series dedicated to presenting world class performances to the Quad Cities. The River Cities' Reader said of Greenholtz' solo premiere with the QCSO, the "sweetness of sound within her lyrical approach was an attractive veil that enhanced deep technical strength."

On Friday, December 6, Alasdair Neale and Naha Greenholtz will present at the Inside the Music Luncheon, this time at the River Music Experience at 12:00 noon. This luncheon is hosted by Volunteers for Symphony. Inside the Music is a great place to grab a bite to eat for lunch and get the inside scoop on the upcoming performances. This is also a great opportunity for music lovers throughout the Quad Cities to meet the guest artists in person. For December only, the luncheon is just $10 and reservations can be made at www.qcsymphony.com or by calling 563.322.QCSO (7276).

Also on Friday, students are invited to sit in on a dress rehearsal and get the inside perspective through Students@Symphony. During a break in the rehearsal, the students will have an opportunity to meet both Guest Conductor Alasdair Neale and Concertmaster Naha Greenholtz. This program is open to any secondary or elementary student and supervising adults. Students should arrive at 7:30 p.m. and pre-register online at

Neale and Greenholtz will also be available during Concert Conversations, held in the concert hall an hour before each of the weekend's concerts. At Concert Conversations the audience is given a quick overview of the program they are about to experience. This look into the background of the concert's repertoire is led by Kai Swanson and has become and audience favorite.

Finally, after the Saturday night performance, the entire audience is invited to mingle with the guest artists, Concertmaster Naha Greenholtz, and many of the musicians of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra in the lobby of the Hotel Blackhawk at Afterglow. The evening includes free hors d'oeuvres, cash bar, and always remarkable repartee.

EVENT LISTING

Inside the Music LuncheonFriday, December 6, at 12:00 noonReservations: $10Contact: www.qcsymphony.com or 563.322.QCSO (7276)River Music Experience, Davenport